STATEN ISLAND, NY – Richmond University Medical Center, an affiliate of the Mount Sinai Health Network, today announced that it has received the prestigious Joint Commission Certification in the areas of Chest Pain and Heart Failure, recognition of the medical center’s commitment to providing exceptional patient care.

Richmond University underwent rigorous on-site reviews earlier this year in which Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with national disease-specific care standards as well as with additional specific requirements for Chest Pain and Heart Failure. Clinical practice guidelines and performance measures also were assessed.

Established in 2002 and awarded for a two-year period, The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification evaluates clinical programs across the continuum of care and addresses three core areas:

• Compliance with consensus-based national standards;

• Effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care; and

• An organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.

Chest pain is one of the most common potentially serious complaints offered by patients in emergency departments, hospitals, outpatient settings, and physicians' offices. A broad array of diseases and conditions may cause it, including (but not limited to) angina pectoris or myocardial infarction; anxiety and hyperventilation; aortic dissection; costochondritis or injured ribs; cough, pneumonia, pleurisy, pneumothorax, or pulmonary emboli; esophageal diseases, such as reflux or esophagitis; gastritis, duodenitis, or peptic ulcer; and stones in the biliary tree.

Heart failure is the inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically, failure of the heart to pump blood with normal efficiency. When this occurs, the heart is unable to provide adequate blood flow to other organs such as the brain, liver and kidneys. Heart failure may be due to failure of the right or left or both ventricles. The signs and symptoms depend upon which side of the heart is failing. They can include shortness of breath (dyspnea), asthma due to the heart (cardiac asthma), pooling of blood (stasis) in the general body (systemic) circulation or in the liver's (portal) circulation, swelling (edema), blueness or duskiness (cyanosis), and enlargement (hypertrophy) of the heart.

“We appreciate that The Joint Commission recognized our commitment to achieving exceptional quality in the fields of Chest Pain and Heart Failure,” stated Daniel J. Messina, Ph.D., FACHE, LNHA, President & Chief Executive Officer of Richmond University Medical Center. “I am grateful to our clinical teams for the heroic work they perform every day and for these tremendous results throughout a rigorous examination process.”

"Richmond University Medical Center has thoroughly demonstrated a high level of care for patients with Chest Pain and Heart Failure,” said Patrick Phelan, executive director, Hospital Business Development, The Joint Commission. “We commend Richmond University for becoming a leader in cardiac care, potentially providing a higher standard of service for patients in its community.”

An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards.

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The Joint Commission

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

About Richmond University Medical Center

Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC), an affiliate of The Mount Sinai Hospital and the Icahn School of Medicine, is a 470+ bed healthcare facility and teaching institution serving borough residents as a leader in the areas of acute, medical and surgical care, including emergency care, surgery, minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgery, gastroenterology, cardiology, pediatrics, podiatry, endocrinology, urology, oncology, orthopedics, neonatal intensive care and maternal health. The medical center earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for quality and patient safety.

RUMC is a Level 1 Trauma Center and a designated Stroke Center, receiving top national recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. The state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization Lab has PCI capabilities for elective and emergent procedures in angioplasty. RUMC maintains a Wound Care/Hyperbaric Center and a Sleep Disorder Center on-site at its main campus. The hospital also offers behavioral health services, encompassing both inpatient and outpatient services for children, adolescents and adults, including emergent inpatient and mobile outreach units. RUMC is the only borough facility that offers inpatient psychiatric services for adolescents.

With over 2,500 employees, RUMC is one of the largest employers on Staten Island. Its main campus is located at 355 Bard Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10310.